Gregory Halpern

Gregory Halpern (born 1977)^[1] is an American photographer and teacher, living in Rochester, New York. He is a professor of photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a full member of Magnum Photos. Halpern has published a number of books of his own work; Zzyzx won PhotoBook of the Year at the 2016 Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards.^[2] He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2014.^[3]

Early life and education

Halpern grew up in Buffalo, New York.^[4] He holds a BA in history and literature from Harvard University and an MFA from California College of the Arts.^[5]

Life and work

Omaha Sketchbook (2009) is an artist's book portrait of the titular city.^[6][7] Harvard Works Because We Do (2003) is a book of photographs and text, presenting a portrait of Harvard University through the eyes of the school's service employees.^[8][9] A (2011) is a photographic ramble through the streets of the American Rust Belt. East of the Sun, West of the Moon (2014) is a collaboration with the photographer Ahndraya Parlato.^[10] Zzyzx (2016), named after Zzyzx, California, contains photographs from Los Angeles.^[3][11] Let the Sun Beheaded Be (2020) was made over several months in the French archipelago of Guadeloupe.^[12][13] King, Queen, Knave (2024) was made over 20 years visiting Halpern's home city of Buffalo, New York (again in the Rust Belt).^[14]

Halpern became a nominee member of Magnum Photos in 2018,^[15] an associate member two years later, and a full member in 2023.^[16] He has taught at California College of the Arts, Cornell University, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.^[17][18] He is currently a professor of photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology.^[5]

Personal life

Halpern is married to Ahndraya Parlato, also a photographer.^[19] They live in Rochester, New York with their two daughters.^[20]

Publications

Publications by Halpern

• Harvard Works Because We Do. New York: Quantuck Lane/W.W. Norton, 2003. With an introduction by Studs Terkel
• Omaha Sketchbook. J&L, 2009.^[4]
• A. J&L, 2011.
• Zzyzx. London: Mack, 2016.^[21][22]
• Confederate Moons. Oakland, CA: TBW, 2018. ISBN 978-1-942953-33-3. Annual Series 6, Book 3. Halpern, Guido Guidi, Jason Fulford, and Viviane Sassen each had one book in a set of four. Edition of 1000 copies.
• Let the Sun Beheaded Be. New York: Aperture, 2020. ISBN 978-1597114905.^[23]
• King, Queen, Knave. London: Mack, 2024. ISBN 978-1-913620-74-5.

Publications with others

• The Photographer's Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas. New York: Aperture, 2014. ISBN 978-1-59711-247-5. Edited by Halpern and Jason Fulford.
• East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Études Books N°8. Paris: Études, 2014. By Ahndraya Parlato and Halpern. ISBN 978-2-36962-003-7. With a text by Nicholas Muellner. Edition of 300 copies. In English and French.^[24]

Awards

• 2014: Guggenheim Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation^[3]
• 2016: Zzyzx won PhotoBook of the Year, Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards, Paris.^[2]